POPULATION:	20 Million
LITERACY RATE:	22%
SELF DEFENSE FORCES:	U.S. MILITARY, Sudanese National Army,
LANGUAGES:	Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, English
ETHNIC GROUPS:	Somali, Digil, Rahanwayn
BORDERING COUNTRIES:	Chad, Central African Republic, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Uganda, Zaire

SUDAN- Sudanese proverb says that when Allah created Sudan, he laughed in delight. These days its more like he is crying in shame and frustration.  The largest country in Africa, Sudan has spent the years since achieving its independence fro England and Egypt in 1956 suffering from drought in its vast desert regions and embroiled in one of the longest civil wars in the history of the world.  A war that had raged for 60 years, sweeping the country with famine, chaos, and bloodshed.  Mostly the fighting took place between the Arab Islamic factions of the north, and the black Christian/Animist factions of the south, and the tribal factions of the south with each other.  When a Red Cross plane and its US escort of two fighters were shot in down crossing the the country en route to aid Sudanese refugees in 2009 it was the final straw.   The United States called it an act of war and invaded, crushing both sides of the conflict in under a year.  It wasn't an easy victory, but U.S. losses were roughly comparable to those of the Gulf War of the early 90's.  After crushing all opposition the U.S. installed a new government in Sudan, and slowly the country began rebuilding.  The U.S. opened several military bases in the region and now has a good position on both the continent and a position of control on the Red Sea.

While economically the country is doing much better, and the majority of conflict in the region has ceased, there is a vast number of people who despise the Americans even moreso than the former ruling parties.  Rightly so, as the U.S. has effectively taken over their country lock stock and barrel and carefully monitors and erases opposition to the new U.S. puppet government.  The CIA is is very well dug in here and resentment towards foreign intervention is reaching a boiling point among revolutionaries.  Underground rebel forces and terrorist movements lie in wait, making an occasional run on U.S. installations.  However these groups are not organized enough yet to pose a real threat to anyone in power, and are rooted out almost as soon as they take action.  In the underground whispers and rumors of the coming of the next Mahdi (expected one) are circulating and the people wait with hungry eyes for him to lead them to true independence.  Still for every group found out and crushed another takes its place.  In the South tribal wars are still a problem.  While the country is gradually getting safer and U.S. military presence is visible in the more densely populated areas, tourists are still advised not to travel here.  The biggest threat to Sudan right now comes from Chad, and the two nations wage war on each other off and on.

Its a pity really, because Sudan is a beautiful country, rich with wildlife, and natural resources.  Lucrative oil fields are one of the main reasons the U.S. has gone to such extreme measure in the area.